Please remove the flint from the Zippo lighter and allow the fuel to evaporate from the inside lighting mechanism two or three days before mailing it so that it is not flammable.

Please print your name, complete return address and telephone number clearly on the outside of the package, as well as enclosing the same information inside the package with the Zippo lighter or other Zippo product.

One of the main downsides for Zippo lighters, is the fact that its fuel evaporates very quickly during certain seasons of the year. During summer, evaporation is extremely fast and it can take less than a week for a Zippo’s fuel to evaporate completely. Here are a few ways to help prevent the fuel from evaporating so quickly:

Buy and store your Zippo in a zip-lock bag, it may help to stop, or greatly reduce fuel evaporation, especially if you are going to be outdoors.

If you are going to be indoors, then you should place your Zippo somewhere away from the sun. If you have a basement, that is the best place to keep your Zippo lighter stored. Other good places to keep your Zippo include inside a closet, under your bed, or in a sealed container.

As a note of general precaution, don’t ever leave your Zippo lighter anywhere exposed to the sun because this is very dangerous.

Remove the inside unit from the case. Unscrew the flint spring from the bottom of the inside unit. Remove screw and attached spring. Be sure the remainder of the old flint has been removed from the flint tube. Place new flint in tube, replace spring and screw lightly. Make sure screw is turned as far as it will go, otherwise the cover will not close completely.

Remove the inside unit from the case. Unscrew the flint spring from the bottom of the inside unit. Remove screw and attached spring. Remove felt pad. Use tweezers to remove all packing from fuel chamber. Insert new wick downward through chimney, pulling through with tweezers. Replace packing in small pieces, interweaving the wick between the padding pieces. Replace felt pad. Be sure the remainder of the old flint has been removed from the flint tube. Place new flint in tube, replace flint spring and screw lightly. Make sure screw is turned as far as it will go, otherwise the cover will not close completely. Be sure to trim wick even with chimney height.

Remove the inside unit from the case. Lift the corner of the felt pad on the bottom of the insert to reveal the packing material in the fuel chamber. Saturate the packing with Zippo lighter fluid. Fill slowly, taking care to never overfill. Avoid getting the lighter fluid on your skin as it can be a skin irritant. If contact with skin does occur, wash the effected area with mild soap and water.

Insert the inside unit back into the case, making sure to wipe the lighter and your hands dry before igniting. Be sure the fuel can is closed and there is no spilled fuel in the vicinity before igniting. This is a flammable fluid. If the Zippo lighter is kept in your pocket, Zippo suggests that it be placed bottom down, especially when first re-fueled.

Before we begin this process of putting the passion back into your Zippo relationship you will need the following tools: A flathead screwdriver, an extra flint, a rag, a whole lot of love and Zippo lighter fluid.

Gently open the Zippo with whichever fingers you use to do that and, admire its inside beauty. Make sure that you handle the Zippo Lighter like you would a baby chick, caressing it to show it that it’s loved. This will help build trust between you and the windproof lighter as you get ready to remove its parts and refill it with lighter fluid. Refilling the lighter fluid is just like rekindling the flame between two old lovers.

After much assurance that everything will be alright, remove the Zippo insert from its case, exposing its vulnerability to the world. Like so many others with a hard exterior, the Zippo is really soft and sensitive inside. Lift up its soft cotton strip and prepare to pour in the love.

Take the Zippo lighter fluid container which I call the Vessel of Love and pop the top. Soak the exposed cotton ball with lighter fluid but please be careful not to get overexcited and over do it with the pouring. Give yourself a moment after you are finished for it may be months possibly years before you get to do that again

The flint of the Zippo has probably given itself to you over and over throughout its life at your every command. And, now that the lighter fluid love has been given and received, it’s time to replace the flint. Without make any abrupt or sudden moves that may scare the Zippo, gently take the screwdriver in hand. Battle and defeat the coldness of the screwdriver by warming it with your fingers as you begin to unscrew the gold cap that leads you to the precious flint.

Unfasten the Zippo’s cap, the only obstacle between you and the flint and pull out the lengthy slender coil. Set the cap, coil and used flint, which are all connected together, gently on the table as you would a napping infant. Seize the replacement flint without the used flint seeing, for it will cause too much pain knowing it is being replaced by a younger flint. Throw the old flint away and move along to the new. Attach the new inexperienced flint to the coil and re-insert the flint and coil into the corridor.

Once again take the screwdriver that which the Zippo is now well acquainted and screw the cap in place. Feel free to screw it hard as it needs to fit snug. Set the screwdriver down and slip the Zippo back into the comfort of its sleek metal case. Gently rub down the Zippo with a soft towel, removing any blemishes your foul dirty fingers may have left on its beautiful case.

Properly set the mood by playing some Marvin Gaye as you prepare to strike the flint and test the fruit of your labor. Close your eyes and envision the lighters flame calmly floating in place above the Zippo’s chimney like leaves of a tree blowing back and forth from a gentle breeze. Open your eyes and with the controlled aggression of two Tango dances ignite the Zippo!

Keeping your Zippo lighter happy is fairly simple to do. Keep it filled with Zippo lighter fluid love and pick it up a pair of flints once in a while and it’ll ready to burn for you whenever you want. And unlike your spouse or significant other you can always send it back to Zippo for a free repair if there is an issue you can’t handle.